Category: Spiritual Warfare

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The Active Watcher

Jeremiah 1:12 — “Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it.”

Throughout this series, God Revealed through Women, we have been looking at how God makes His character known through the lives and stories of women in Scripture. We have seen Him as the God of Beauty, the One who provides Covering, and the God of Justice. Each story reveals another facet of who He is and how He works in the world through ordinary people entrusted with extraordinary moments.

In the story of Miriam, we encounter another dimension of God’s nature — the God who actively watches over His word to perform it. Through the quiet faithfulness of a young girl who watched, listened, and stood ready, we see that God is not distant from His promises. He is attentive, intentional, and faithful to bring about what He has spoken.

She watched as her mother wove the basket that would become an ark for her little baby brother. As she watched her mother’s fingers work steadily, she thought of another ark built to save lives and preserve God’s word to the human race — “I will send a deliverer through the seed of the woman.”

As she watched, she remembered overhearing her parents speak of how the Lord’s favor was upon this baby and that there was a great work for him to do. She watched her parents fearlessly disobey Pharaoh’s command to surrender all baby boys to death in the River Nile. She heard their plans to use the very thing ordained as an instrument of death as the instrument of salvation for her baby brother.

Just like the story of Noah and the great flood, the same waters that would destroy many would carry him to a place of new life and victory.

She watched and she listened.

Finally, the day came when her baby brother was to be placed on the River Nile. She watched as her mother wrapped him carefully in his blanket and laid him in the ark. She accompanied her mother to the river and watched her gently place the ark among the reeds.

Her mother left with tears streaming down her cheeks.

But she stayed.

She watched — alert, expectant.

Then she saw an important woman bathing by the river, surrounded by her servants. The woman paused in confusion, looking around, listening, waiting. Her gaze settled on an object — the ark.

She watched as the woman pointed toward it and gave instructions. The servants quickly retrieved the ark and brought it to their mistress. She watched as the woman opened it and lifted her baby brother out.

She saw the look of compassion and wonder on the woman’s face and knew — the waters had carried her baby brother into his new life, his God-appointed life.

Quickly she ran to the woman and asked, “Do you want me to fetch one of the Hebrew mothers? She can nurse the baby for you.”

Though startled, the woman agreed.

Years later, she watched again — this time as her baby brother, now eighty years old, returned as God’s deliverer for their people.

The story of little Miriam gives us a portrait of how God actively watches over His word to perform it in our lives. He does not merely speak a word or send a word; He watches over it. No strategy, device, weapon, or assignment of the adversary can stop the word God is watching over. That word will find its rightful place. That word will connect with the right people. That word will come to pass.

The story of little Miriam gives us a living picture of what it means when God says He is watching over His word to perform it. He does not simply speak and step back. He stays attentive. He watches. He moves. He aligns circumstances, people, and timing so that what He has spoken finds its way into fulfillment.

Just as in the days of Noah, when God instructed him to build an ark to preserve life through the waters of judgment, we see that same pattern again in Moses’ story. The Nile was meant to be a place of death. Pharaoh had decreed it so. Yet the very waters that were meant to destroy became the pathway that carried God’s promise into preservation.

The waters did not have the final say — God’s word did.

For Noah, the flood carried him into a new beginning. For Moses, the river carried him into the household where he would be prepared for his calling. In both stories, the ark became the place where God’s word was protected, and the waters became the avenue that moved His purposes forward.

This is what happens when God watches over His word. What looks like an ending becomes transition. What looks like threat becomes transport. What looks like loss becomes positioning.

No strategy of man, no decree of rulers, no assignment of the enemy can overturn what God has spoken. The environment may look hostile, the circumstances uncertain, but God is actively ensuring that His word reaches its appointed destination.

His word is alive and full of power, making it active, operative, energizing, and effective…. (Hebrews 4:12, AMPC). It will find the right place. It will connect with the right people. It will accomplish what He intends.

God is not a man, that He should lie, Nor a son of man, that He should repent. Has He said, and will He not do? Or has He spoken, and will He not make it good? — numbers 23: 19, NKJV

So today, like Jochebed and Amram, we are invited to reject fear and trust the word God has spoken over our lives.

By faith Moses, when he was born, was hid three months of his parents, because they saw he was a proper child; and they were not afraid of the king’s commandment.—Hebrews 11:23, KJV

 Like Miriam, we are invited to watch with expectancy, believing that even the waters we fear may become the very path God uses to carry us into His promise.

Then said the Lord to me, You have seen well, for I am alert and active, watching over My word to perform it.” — Jeremiah 1:12, AMPC.

Reflection Questions

  1. Where in my life do I need to trust that God is actively watching over His word, even when circumstances feel uncertain or threatening?
  2. What step of faith might God be inviting me to take today, trusting that He is working behind the scenes to bring His promises to pass?

Closing Prayer

Lord, thank You that You are not distant or passive, but alert and active, watching over Your word to perform it. Help me to trust You when I cannot see the outcome and to remain watchful with faith rather than fear. Strengthen my heart to obey You with courage, knowing that no plan of the enemy can overturn what You have spoken. Teach me to rest in Your faithfulness and to believe that every promise You have given will find its fulfillment in Your perfect timing. Amen.

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From Miriam to Christmas: Prophetic Song

This morning, as I sat in the quiet of my devotional time with the Holy Spirit, the Lord opened my eyes to a truth I had never seen before—the truth of prophetic worship, its origin, and its profound relevance to my life today. I was drawn into the story of Exodus 15:1–20, and what I saw there reshaped my understanding of how God channels revelation and secures victory through song.

Moses’ Song of Deliverance

In this passage, Moses and the Israelites had just witnessed God’s miraculous deliverance at the Red Sea. Pharaoh’s army had been defeated, and the people were on the other side of liberation, both physically and spiritually. Exodus 15:1 opens with: “Then Moses and the Israelites sang this song to the LORD…” 

Moses responded to God’s deliverance with a song, a declaration of God’s power, faithfulness, and deliverance. The people sang with him, echoing the words of triumph and testimony.

Moses’ song is declarative and revelatory. It functions as prophetic proclamation—a theological narration of what God has done, who He is, and what He will yet do. Moses is doing what prophets always do: declaring divine truth. Importantly, Moses is not described as leading the people into worship. There is no mention of instruments, movement, or call-and-response. The people sing with Moses, not under his direction. Moses’ song is prophecy spoken in poetic form, not worship facilitated as a communal practice.

Miriam Initiates Prophetic Worship

Then something extraordinary happens. The narrative shifts decisively in verses 20–21: “Then Miriam the prophetess… took a timbrel in her hand, and all the women went out after her… and Miriam answered them…”

Here, Scripture explicitly links her prophetic identity, musical instrumentation, communal leadership, and responsive worship.The verb “answered” (ʿānâ)  indicates call-and-response. Miriam is not declaring theology about God; she is leading the people to proclaim it themselves. This is a different prophetic function.

Miriam, inspired by the Holy Spirit, transforms Moses’ song into prophetic worship. She initiates a dynamic expression of revelation that could be felt, remembered, and passed down.

The Evolution of Prophetic Worship

Miriam is not the first prophet to use poetry. She is the first prophet to be  explicitly named as such while leading worship. She is the first to channel prophecy through music, rhythm, and communal response and to establish worship as a means of remembrance and formation. Her ministry creates a pattern, not just a moment; a pattern that inaugurated a prophetic ministry form—one that Scripture later develops, preserves, and institutionalizes.

By the time of David, prophetic worship evolved into a structured, civic ministry. David himself prophesied through song (the book of Psalms). Later, he formalizes and institutionalizes the practice: David appoints Levites, assigns shifts, and creates a system where worship and song (with instruments) serve as a national vehicle of remembrance and prophecy. What Miriam initiated, David formalized and institutionalized.

Generational Impact Through Song

This legacy continued through generations. The ministry David established did not end with him. It was preserved through prophetic families.

Scripture references Asaph and his sons, Heman and his sons, and other families such as the sons and daughters of Jeduthun as prophets and seers. Asaph’s psalms function as national correction and covenant reminder. Heman is described as a seer, and notably, his prophetic household includes sons and daughters (1 Chr. 25:5–6). Jeduthun’s lineage prophesies through thanksgiving and praise.

They carried the ministry of prophetic worship forward, using instruments and song to channel revelation for their communities over multigenerational lines. Song became more than music—it became a strategy for transmitting God’s word and preserving spiritual memory.

Prophetic Song in the Christmas Story

Fast forward to the advent, to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, and we see the same principle at work. Revelation is channeled through song surrounding His birth. Zechariah sings declaring the purpose and destiny of Jesus (Luke 1:68–79). Mary lifts her voice in a prophetic song that announces God’s mercy and the reversal of worldly power (Luke 1:46–55). The angels, appearing to the shepherds, break forth in song to herald the Savior’s arrival (Luke 2:13–14). From Miriam to Mary, from David to the angels, song is a conduit for prophecy and divine truth.

Song as a Strategy for Memory and Deliverance

As I meditated on the evolution of prophetic worship, I realized that channeling revelation through song—putting God’s words/prophecy  to music—is a strategy that can work for us today. Scientific research confirms what Scripture illustrates: words set to music are retained longer in memory than words spoken alone. Song allows us to internalize revelation, embed promises, and hold fast to God’s identity and calling in our lives. When we sing over ourselves, our families, and our communities, we create spiritual DNA—a memory that can endure across generations.

Practical Ways to Embrace Prophetic Worship This Christmas

This is yet another strategy initiated by an ezer—a helper, a strong supporter, a prophetess in action—that we can adopt in our lives. As we celebrate Christmas and sing carols that have been passed down through centuries, let us also consider creating our own songs, putting to music the revelations God has given us. These songs can preserve tools of deliverance, celebration, and memory for years to come.

This Christmas, I want to encourage you to embrace prophetic song as more than background music or a seasonal tradition. Here’s how you can do it:

  1. Declare His faithfulness aloud. Take a verse or a truth about Jesus’ birth and sing it in your own words. Let it flow naturally from your heart.

  2. Sing over your family and future generations. As Miriam’s song carried legacy, allow your worship to declare blessings and victory over those who will come after you.

  3. Use song as a reminder of deliverance. Recall moments when God has intervened in your life, and turn them into melody—this cements His faithfulness in your memory.

  4. Create a daily habit this season. Even a few minutes each day of singing or humming prophetic truths can reset your atmosphere and invite revelation.

Sing not only for joy but for deliverance. Sing not only for today but to pass on the knowledge of your identity and the promises of God for generations to come. Let every note be a declaration of hope, a vessel for prophecy, and a tool for remembrance. 

Have a song-filled Christmas!

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Speaking Strength to Your Own Soul

“I have done it again — fallen into the trap of negative self-talk, speaking from a place of fear rather than faith, believing the lies of my own emotions, and allowing them to script the narrative instead of submitting to the truth of God’s Word.”

Self-talk, in the natural sense, is the internal way we interpret, rehearse, and respond to life’s circumstances. But our words are more than reflections of thought; they are vehicles of spirit — carriers capable of transporting either life or death. Proverbs 18:21 reminds us that “death and life are in the power of the tongue.”

For the regenerated believer — the one hosting the Spirit of God — self-talk becomes more than psychological; it becomes prophetic. In John 6:63, Jesus says, “The words I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” When we speak under the influence of His Spirit, our words carry that same life-giving essence. Spirit-led self-talk releases the restorative power of the Holy Spirit into the places where strength has been depleted.

Isaiah 50:4 declares, “The Lord God has given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary.” When our inner conversation aligns with God’s Word, our soul becomes a sanctuary — a place where strength is renewed and divine direction is restored.

Spirit-led self-talk is powerful. It is the speech of a soul regenerated by Christ, a vessel hosting the Holy Spirit, a tongue trained to speak a word to the weary — and sometimes, the weary one is you.

Scripture reinforces this practice of speaking to oneself as a means of securing and renewing strength. Consider David at Ziklag (1 Samuel 30:1–7). When his men spoke of stoning him, he did not wait for external affirmation. Instead, he “encouraged himself in the Lord.” That word encouraged means strengthened. Before he prayed, he spoke strength to his soul. I believe he reminded himself of who God had been, and in doing so, he found the strength to reach for the ephod — strength to pray, strength to move, strength to continue.

I am also reminded of the four lepers in 2 Kings 7:3–5. Trapped between famine and fear, they spoke to themselves: “Why sit we here until we die?” Their words were not lofty prayers, but they were catalytic. Their self-talk generated momentum. Their internal dialogue infused enough courage into their weakened bodies to move toward deliverance.

My mind then turns to the Psalms, where David frequently addresses his own soul. His words are windows into sanctified self-talk:

  • “Why are you cast down, O my soul? Hope thou in God” (Psalm 42:5).

  • “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits” (Psalm 103:1–2).

  • “My soul shall make her boast in the Lord” (Psalm 34:2).

  • “Let the redeemed of the Lord say so” (Psalm 107:2).

This form of speech is not denial — it is the stewardship of strength and the discipleship of the inner man. David commands his emotions to align with eternal truth so that his words can follow suit.

Psalm 77:6 offers a glimpse of this sacred internal dialogue:

“I call to remembrance my song in the night: I commune with mine own heart: and my spirit made diligent search.”

This is divine introspection — talking oneself back into alignment with God’s promises.

Pouring Fresh Strength Into the Emotional Space

Words that wounded once found a home in us because they were hosted — given room, rehearsed, and believed. But healing words can be hosted too.

The Spirit of God invites us to make our hearts a dwelling place for truth. When we rehearse His promises, speak what He speaks, and declare His character over our circumstances, His Word begins to pour fresh strength into depleted spaces.

Friends, this is how we speak strength to our own soul. Self-talk rooted in Scripture is not empty affirmation; it is prophetic recall. Part of the stewardship of strength is choosing words that restore rather than words that drain. The right word, spoken at the right time — even when spoken to ourselves — carries restorative power.

Reflection Questions

  1. What internal narratives have you been rehearsing that drain rather than restore your strength?

  2. Which Scriptures can you begin speaking over your own soul to counter emotional depletion?

  3. How can you cultivate a rhythm of Spirit-led self-talk throughout your day?

  4. What would it look like to intentionally host healing words rather than wounded ones in your emotional space?

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The Encouragement Toolbox

Over the past few weeks, I’ve been reflecting on the ways God equips us for the assignments He’s placed on our lives. First, I shared that our equipping begins with the legacy we inherit, the genealogical heritage that shapes us. Then last week, we looked at how God equips us through deliverance, confronting the root issues, cycles, and traumas that try to hold us hostage, and He gives us power to rise and walk free.

Today, I want to share yet another way God equips us, through encouragement.

Job reminds us that God speaks in many ways: through dreams, visions, instruction, even warnings (Job 33:14–17). 

One morning, I awoke from a dream in which I was preparing an encouragement toolbox for a young woman, a new believer in the Lord. In my dream, the box was a deep cherry-colored wooden case, almost like an egg box. Inside, each egg sat in a little marked space: thanksgiving, praise, spoken word, and more. I found myself telling her, “When you feel down, open this box and begin to encourage yourself in the Lord.”

When I woke, my mind went immediately to David in 1 Samuel 30. Scripture says he was greatly distressed. His men were weeping. Their families had been taken. They even spoke of stoning him. Yet the Bible says, “But David encouraged himself in the Lord his God” (v.6). The Hebrew word there, ḥāzaq, means to strengthen, to take hold, to support, to make strong.

What struck me most was the order of events: David encouraged himself before he prayed. He couldn’t even reach for the ephod until he first reached for courage.

Prayer requires strength. Sometimes, when we are crushed under discouragement, grief, or mental burden, we can’t even get to prayer until we first remind ourselves of who our God is.

That’s when I understood my dream; each “egg” in the box was a tool of strength for moments of distress.

My Encouragement Box includes:

  • Thanksgiving – recounting the blessings of the Lord, big and small.
  • Praise – declaring who I know God to be, in song or in speech.
  • Prophecy to myself – aligning my words with His Word, speaking truth over my own life.
  • Listening to sermons/teachings – letting faith be stirred by hearing the Word again.
  • And if the heaviness lingers? Repeat.

These tools are not just for me; they are part of my equipping so that I, as an “older woman” (Titus 2:3–5), can strengthen others. Encouragement is contagious. When we find courage in God, we can pass courage to the next generation.

Friends, we all need an encouragement toolbox. We need something to reach for when the weight of life tries to press us into despair. Because like David, once we find our strength again, we are able to pray, to hear God’s instruction, and to move forward.

A Prayer

Father, I thank You that I can wake with my mind on You. Thank You for reminding me that there is a generation of women coming after me that You are calling me to teach, mentor, and cover. Thank You for showing me that I am now among the “older women” You speak of in Titus 2. Train me, Lord, to encourage myself so that I can be an encourager to others. May my speech be laced with thanksgiving, filled with praise, rooted in prophecy and Your Word, so that in times of distress I can stand strong. Holy Spirit, lead me continually into this truth. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

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How to Overcome Blurred Vision

 “... I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, …. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead” (Philippians 3:8, 13, NIV).

Melissa is on her way back to her hometown after having been away for 3 years. When she left home, she was full of joy for and anticipation of the great opportunity ahead. She was walking into her best life, or so she thought. However, the following 3 years were filled with shattered dreams and downtrodden expectations, unexpected suffering, and almost intolerable pain. Returning home was her only hope but the thought of all she had lost and what lay ahead filled her with inconsolable grief. She could not stop crying.

Having resolved to start the journey home, Melissa packed the U-Haul truck and drove off towards the north. But she could not stop crying. She navigated the route with tears rolling down her cheeks, until she heard these words: “If you don’t stop crying, you will not be able to see the road; you will not be able to see where you are going.”

As I reflected on 2023 and turned my gaze toward 2024, the memory of one of my co-workers testimony flooded my mind. Melissa shared with me how God’s leading and guidance brought her through one of the darkest times of her life and that guidance began with the words she heard in that U-Haul truck. Those words were life changing for her and, at the time that she told me her testimony, it was as if the Lord Himself was speaking those words to me.

So often, our forward movement is hindered not because of a lack of sight, but rather because of cloudy or blurred vision caused by tears. Tears of sorrow because of the pain of losses; tears resulting from having to let go. Tears of fear brought on by the unknown, not knowing what lies ahead. Tears that cause us to freeze in place, not able to move forward.

I listened and was pointed to Ecclesiastes 3:1 -11a (NIV). “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…. He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Every activity has a season assigned to it and accepting the end of seasons, though sometimes difficult, is essential to our ability to move into the next for our lives. Like Paul, we must master the art of “counting all this as loss…. forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead” (Philippians 3:7, 13, NKJV).

The year 2023 has come to an end and we have just entered a new year. We are not sure where our path will take us this year. But one thing is certain: if we don’t stop crying, we won’t be able to clearly see the path ahead. My prayer for you this year is clarity of sight and that God would grant you the comfort, courage, and grace to stand despite sorrow so that you can “make your way prosperous and have good success” (Joshua 1:8, NKJV).

Friend, wipe away the tears. Position your eyes to see. Lift your eyes so you can see with clarity the length and breadth of that which the Lord God has in store for you and be able to safely navigate the path to get there. This year can be an amazing year if you reject blurred vision brought on by tears.

Let us pray: Our Heavenly Father, as I begin my journey into this new year, I pray that you would grant me grace to let go the things I need to and embrace the new things that you are sending into my life. May my life be characterized by joy and not sorrow, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

Please share your thoughts in the comment section below and share the post on your social media. Thank you for your support.

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Give Thanks!

“in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV)

Every morning as the sun rises, every time the rain falls, every time an animal deposits its waste on the ground (soil), and every time the weight of a bee settles on a flower, it is an opportunity for that plant to receive what it needs to grow and multiply. To some, the heat of the sun, the wetness of the rain, the stench of the manure, and the weight of the bee may be perceived as NEGATIVES, discomfort, and even pain but, to others, these same things are perceived as BLESSINGS.

There is [an] opportunity for growth in EVERY situation that comes our way. This is why the Lord God said, through Paul, “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you” (1 Thessalonians 5:18, NKJV).

Friends, we can choose to view these situations as earthen vessels with treasures buried within and hunt for the treasures that will enrich our lives with growth and multiplication. OR we can choose to stay at a place of depression and defeat. The choice is yours. Choose well!

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Right thing, Wrong time

Grace and I were on our way to visit a church. I punched in the address in the GPS and we set off. According to the GPS, the journey should be about 26 minutes, that is, it should take us about 26 minutes to get to our destination. About 6 minutes into the journey, Grace asked, “Mummy, are you watching the map?” I then looked at the GPS, sighed and said, “I just added 3 minutes to our time.”

I missed a turn! I was distracted; I was engrossed in thought. I was not concentrating on or paying attention to the journey because my mind was preoccupied with what the Lord had revealed to me that morning during my time with Him. I was doing a good thing, a God-thing but at the wrong time. 

The consequence of my inattention was additional stops and ultimately delay. The initial route from the point where I veered off required 6 traffic lights stops but the route I ended up taking had over 15 traffic light stops. As I drove and waited at each traffic light, I fought the feelings of frustration that the wait invoked. I told myself there was nothing I could do, at this point, but stay the course and remain focused going forward so I can make it to my destination sooner than later.

As I talked myself into remaining calm, I pondered on how the delay meant that we would miss what was ministered to the congregation within the first 5 minutes of the 1-hour service as well as whatever else the Lord had prepared to release into our lives at that time. I saw how delay not only makes the heart sick but it robs us of some of what was rightfully prepared for us, while bringing into our lives unnecessary interruptions and the frustrations that accompany them.

I thought of my current journey and wondered:

  1. Could it be that the frustrations that I am experiencing is because of a delay?
  2. Could it be that I am doing the right thing but because of lack of focus I have fallen behind schedule and am no longer in sync with the timing of God?
  3. Could it be that the delay or setbacks I am blaming the adversary for are a result of my failure to be intentional or give keen attention to my journey?
  4. Could it be that I am doing the right thing but at the wrong time?

I am reminded of the five foolish virgins in the parable Jesus taught in Matthew 25. The reason they did not experience their expected end (Jeremiah 29:11, KJV) was because they were doing the right thing at the wrong time.

“But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut” (Matthew 25:10, NIV). 

These virgins were doing the right thing: “going to those who sell oil and buying some for themselves” so that they could complete their assignment of lighting the path for the bridal procession. They ended up at the right destination: the wedding banquet but were denied access. Why? Although they were doing the right thing and were at the right place, they had missed the right time. Their lack of focus and attention during the journey opened the door to a delay that caused them to be out of time and to incur unnecessary sufferings.

Similarly, we are told in Luke 19:40-44 that Jesus wept over Jerusalem because they missed their time of visitation and the price they would pay was untold sufferings.

On the other hand, the Shunnamite woman understood that it was not enough to do the right thing; the right thing must be done at the right time. 2 Kings 8 1-4 (NIV) tells us , “Now Elisha had said to the woman whose son he had restored to life, “Go away with your family and stay for a while wherever you can, because the Lord has decreed a famine in the land that will last seven years.” The woman proceeded to do as the man of God said. She and her family went away and stayed in the land of the Philistines seven years. At the end of the seven years she came back from the land of the Philistines and went to appeal to the king for her house and land.”

She moved in the timing prescribed and “It so happened that as Gehazi was telling the king the story of the dead person brought back to life, the woman whose son was brought to life showed up asking for her home and farm” (2 Kings 8:5, MSG). The king ordered, “Give back everything that belonged to her, including all the income from her land from the day she left the country until now” (2 Kings 8:6, NIV).

My dear friends, when we do the right things at the right time, we intercept the things that God has already prepared for us. But we must be mindful that it is possible to be following the leading of the Holy Spirit and still fall behind schedule. How? If we are not vigilant about distractions, especially those that stem from within – internal distractions- we can propagate a cycle of delay in our lives, limiting ourselves from being and doing ALL that the Lord God has fashioned us to be and do. In this year of recovery, let us be intentional about being on the lookout for distractions, staying focused, and endeavoring not only to obey but to be in time as well.

Let us pray: O Heavenly Father, please grant me the grace for discernment that you gave the sons of Issachar so I can understand not only what you want me to do but the right time at which it should be done. I break the cycle of delay over my life, in Jesus’ name, and receive strength to be vigilant as I follow the leading of your Holy Spirit. In Jesus’ name, Amen!

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Washed

 “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:2-3, NKJV).

It was “Family Car Wash Day”. All four of us were in the backyard putting hands together to wash the three cars in our household. Thad, my husband, had just gotten through lathering the truck and John our son followed with the hose, rinsing off the soap. As the flood of water ran down the side of the truck, it revealed areas that still needed washing. Grace commented how interesting it was that it looked like the truck was washed clean, but the rinsing revealed that it wasn’t. She continued with her observations about the need for more washing for it to be thoroughly clean. As she shared, I was reminded of the 3-fold washing taught by Scripture: the washing by the blood, washing of the word, and washing by the Spirit. Without all 3, we will not be thoroughly clean. “There are three that bear witness on earth: the Spirit, the water, and the blood; and these three agree as one” (1 John 5:8, NKJV).

As I meditated on this throughout the following days, I thought on how we live in a world that is obsessed with having, having more and having it at any cost. Unfortunately, being immersed in such an environment increases our risk of being contaminated or defiled. There is that constant influence that affects our desires, ambitions, and focus. If we are not intentional about rejecting that influence, we will remain in a state of uncleanness and miss our reward at Jesus’ appearing.

1 John 3:2-3 (NKJV) states, “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.”

“… everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” Everyone who has this hope in Christ should cleanse oneself, or should take upon oneself purification. We each have a responsibility to endeavor and maintain purification so we can be pure as Jesus Christ.

Yes, there is an act of purification that comes through the blood of Jesus; through and by His blood our sins are washed away. But there is further purification needed to free us from contamination and defilement as we live in this world. This purification or cleansing is done ‘with the washing of water by the word’ (Ephesians 5:26, NKJV) and “through the washing in which the Holy Spirit gives us new birth and renewal” (Titus 3:5, GW). We must aspire for these to be daily applied to our lives.

Friends, to be totally free of the past, we must ensure that we are washing; washing daily, washing frequently. Washing ensures cleanliness. Just as we see the importance of washing our bodies, cars, clothing, utensils, etc, we should also see the importance of washing our soul daily. It is when we have clean hands and a pure heart that we can ascend into the holy hill and partner with God (Psalms 24:3-4, KJV). The cleaner we are the more we become like Him and the more intimate we can become with Him (1 John 1:5-7, NKJV). The more intimate we are with Him the more access we have to His heart and His power.

Paul said to the church at Corinth, “And such were some of you. But you were washed …. (1 Corinthians 6:11, NKJV). Let us endeavor to be WASHED.

Let us pray: Dear Lord, I thank you for your blood that washes away my sins. Thank you for the availability of your word and your Spirit that sanctifies and cleanses me until I become as pure as you. May I not be content with the contamination of the world that settles on and around me. Instead, may I have a desire to access both your word and your Spirit as a means of purifying/washing myself daily. I look forward to being like you on the day of your appearing. Amen.

DIG DEEPER:

  1. Bible Study: The Laver of Brass
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Getting Pass Your Past

A moment ago, a minute ago, yesterday, last week, last month, nine months ago …. All these phrases are examples of THE PAST.

If you are like me and many others, at this time of the year, you have taken some time to reflect on the past, specifically the past year. You wonder what you might have done differently and how you can improve or do better in several areas of your life for this upcoming year. For many, this reflection might present a sense of “stuckness”, where it seems, although not impossible, very likely improbable to get pass certain aspects of the past. This feeling of “stuckness” is often buried  beneath smiles and well wishes for the season and new year. But there is a way of getting pass the past, a way to truly enter the new year with new momentum and a new drive. I have found that answer in a set aside time of prayer and fasting at the end of the year. For me, it takes the form of 3 days of prayer and fasting but for others the length of time might differ.

In this final blog post of 2022, I would like to share with you a strategy that I have discovered and used to help me get pass my past. First, before entering this period of set aside time of prayer and fasting, I set goals and clarify the purpose of the times of prayer during this fast. This enables me to be targeted in my requests and focuses my spiritual eyes and ears to receive instructions and directions from the Lord, concerning my deliverance, growth, and development. For me, the story of Jonah has provided targeted goals needed to facilitate my moving pass my past. Those goals are namely:

  1. To be rerouted and realigned with God’s destiny for my life.
  2. To hear clearly God’s instructions to me a “second” time.
  3. To realize redeeming of time/restoration of years.

The prayer requests that accompany these goals would then be:

  1. Lord, please cause me to have such an encounter in this time of prayer and fasting that it would be the prepared “vessel” that would transport me to exactly where you want me to be in this season.
  2. Lord God, attune my ears to your frequency and give me the eyes of an eagle to be able to clearly hear your voice and see your leading.
  3. Lord, grant me acceleration and redemption of time that I would arrive at where you intended me to be at this date and in this season of my life.

My prayer for you as you end this year and look forward to another is that this upcoming year you would

  • “forget what is behind and straining toward what is ahead …. press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called [you] heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 3:13-14, NIV).
  • “stand perfect and complete in all the will of God” (Colossians 4:12, KJV).
  • that “the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better…. that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, and his incomparably great power for us who believe” (Ephesians 1: 17-19, NIV).
  • “be filled with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience…” (Colossians 1:9-11, NIV).

I love you guys and am praying for you. Have a happy and Spirit-filled and Spirit-led, New Year. Remember, your past cannot hold you back unless you empower it to do so. The Spirit of the living God has given you power to get pass your past.

DIG DEEPER:

  1. Devotional: The Gift of Mercy
  2. Bible Study: The Power of the 3-Day Prayer & Fasting

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It WILL SURVIVE & THRIVE

Yesterday, I received a text message from one of our spiritual children, “We are having the baby! Mrs. has been admitted to the hospital.” Sometime later, another message followed with a host of pictures, “5lbs 10 ounces 18 1/2 inches long.” My heart was overjoyed for this young couple who had recently been launched into church ministry. I responded to them, “A new chapter of your journey begins now. Go WITH God!”

Throughout the evening, my thoughts would drift back to them and settle on their newborn daughter. I was reminded that, with this new birth, a new potential soldier was born into the kingdom, another arrow in the making. I was reminded of the level of warfare that will be surrounding this innocent child and the necessity for vigilance and sobriety on the part of the parents. The knowledge that within each new life, God has hidden a part of His plan for this earth, weighed heavily on my mind and the urgency to, like Joseph with Jesus of old, do what is necessary to keep that child safe. Eventually, I stopped what I was doing and began to pray for that family.

I awoke this morning, and the memory of this new birth came to mind. As I reflected on the time I spent in prayer for this family, I began to think of those of you who may have also recently given birth to something new or are in the process of carrying a vision. In many cases, we plan for the arrival of the new with much joy and anticipation and forget that, for the new to survive and fulfill its purpose within this hostile environment, the optimal atmosphere must be created. Apostle Peter cautions us in 1 Peter 5:8 (NIV), “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” Prior to Peter’s epistle, Jesus had taught His disciples, “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full (John 10:10, NIV).”

As I write, I am also thinking of those with “children” (visions) that have been birthed some time ago. Some may be thriving on their way to bringing forth fruit of their own. Others may be parched and near death’s door. I pray over all of our children/visions today. I pray that no matter the condition of their physical environment that an atmosphere conducive for growth and development will envelop their lives right now, in Jesus’ name. I call on heaven for angelic assistance to stand guard over and around our children/visions. By the mighty name of Jesus, I rise and disarm every weapon that was fashioned against them and declare, although they have already been formed, they will not succeed in that which they were formed to do (Isaiah 54:17).

That which God has buried within them as hidden treasure to bless this world will come forth, in Jesus’ name. They will execute ALL the will of God in their seasons, in their generation. All that they need to prosper is provided now, in Jesus’ name. May the Holy Spirit breathe fresh life into them and bring them into alignment with that which the Lord is doing in this season. I speak over these children/visions, “Hear ye the word of the Lord. You were sent to earth not to be a failure, not to be a statistic but to accomplish what the Lord has desired and to achieve the purpose for which you were sent” (Isaiah 55: 11, NIV). YOU WILL ACCOMPLISH! YOU WILL PROSPER! You will not only survive but thrive. Go WITH God.